1954 Custom Chevy Hardtop – Dream Car Of The Month

Yes it’s true, loyal Rod & Custom readers, not all 1950s Chevrolets were turquoise blue and white and produced between 1955 and 1957! I’m particularly fond of the pre-Tri-Five years from 1950 through 1954. This month’s feature is based on a ’54 hardtop that I call Mango-low, a custom with some citrus bite. Inspired by cars such as Duane Steck’s Moonglow and the Barris-built Ernst Chevy (second version), I started off with a healthy lowering of the roof. From there, the rear fenders received a full custom treatment with ’56 Merc taillights, fenders slightly extended, and rear wheel openings re-shaped. A modified rear bumper accommodates the exiting of the exhaust pipes nicely, allowing the car to sit really low!

All barbs, such as the door handles, have been shaved and the vent windows are history, adding to the overall sleek aspects of the car. A floating grille and some typical custom applications take care of the front of the car. The flanks of this beauty are covered in pearlized mango-orange suede with the roof and side trim inserts smothered in gold metalflake buried in mile-deep high-gloss clearcoat. Mango-low has some bite to it so there is plenty of onion under the hood to roast those reproduction whitewall slicks and make a few laps at the local dragstrip. As my all-time favorite, chrome reverse wheels with spider caps make for a nice place to hang the vulcanized donuts.